A month has passed since my parents left. There were supposed to be back before my 8th birthday, or so they promised. My uncle helped me forget all about them when he threw me a large birthday party, complete with the biggest cake I've seen to this day, guests and fireworks. Uncle Rue got fined for the use of fireworks, but he said, "It was worth putting a smile on my nephew's face."
Two months passed without my parents. A sudden sadness consumed me. I felt like a sunflower that hadn't seen the sun in ages. I was beginning to wither, emotionally. I'd be forced to wither to this day.
A whole year passed. My parents still haven't come home. My Uncle Rue kept trying to send out a search party for them, but when the first two retrieval parties never came back…
"They've got to be out there." Uncle Rue declared. He was attending another petition with the King at the time. Every week, he petitioned. And every week he'd be denied the people to search for my mom and dad. "We have to find them!"
"Face it, old friend," the Mage King sighed. "They're gone. No one has ever returned from Titan's Crest. We've already lost ten of my finest scouts when I sent them after your sister and her husband. You're welcome to go and look for them yourself, but any blame for the loss of your life will solely be on you. You know the dangers that await at Titan's crest. As did they." The Diamond king waved us away. "Now be gone."
Uncle rue muttered something he shouldn't have said, something about seeing the king again next Tuesday. I couldn't help but snicker.
"And young Lyle." the King called to me. Both Uncle Rue and I had turned to leave the throne room.
I made sure to bow, just as Uncle Rue taught me. "Yes, your arcane majesty?"
"Do not follow in your footsteps. They were two of the greatest mages, full of potential that rivaled my own. I sometimes wonder if I'd still be king if they made it back. BUt nonetheless, I need to tell you not to chase power. It'll come to you more often than it will if you chase it. Understand?"
I nodded; I hadn't the slightest clue what he was talking about. Uncle rue pulled me away, dragging me out of the throne room. I got one last look at the Diamond King. His blonde hair looked shaggy and unkempt. There was a sad look on his face, like he was defeated. Or like he had lost something special to him.
"Did the King know mom and dad?" I asked Uncle Rue.
Rue paused mid motion. We were in the shopping district, and he was picking apples from a booth. A few eyes fell on us, curious eyes that made rue nervous. He quickly bought the apples, then took me by the hand.
"Listen carefully, Lyle. Your mom and dad used to be best friends with the current king. You could even say that they were rivals. Friendly ones, that is."
"Does that mean mom and dad were as strong as the king?"
"They used to be. A long time ago."
"Well, how come they aren't king and queen, too."
Rue gave a humorless chuckle, ruffling my hair with his free hand. He purchases a loaf of bread with the other and tossedit into the basket I held. "Hey!" I yelled, fixing my hair.
"There can't be more than four Mage Kings. There's the Diamond king, the heart one, the clubs king and the spade king. THats just the way things are." he purchased a few cakes and plopped them into the basket.
"How come mom and dad arent kings, though? If the king right now was their rival, wouldn't they be as strong as he is now."
Rue paused. Then he plopped a fourth cake into the basket and said, "Your mom and dad had different plans for their future. THe king wanted to stay on track."
As of writing this, I realized he was talking about me. My parents wanted to raise me instead of strictly pursuing the title of the mage king.